First Amendment rights are facing a new challenge as President Donald Trump has proposed severe penalties for “illegal protests.” On Tuesday, Trump warned that colleges allowing such demonstrations risk losing federal funding, while foreign students could face deportation and American students could be expelled or imprisoned.
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The statement follows a recent federal task force report on antisemitism, which highlighted 10 U.S. colleges where antisemitic incidents occurred after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. These schools include Columbia University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California, Berkeley, among others. Many of these institutions witnessed large-scale protests in the aftermath, drawing scrutiny from congressional Republicans.
Crackdown on Campus Protests and the First Amendment
The First Amendment protects free speech and peaceful assembly, but Trump’s proposed measures could lead to severe restrictions on student activism. His previous executive order directed the Justice Department to take action against antisemitic crimes, including vandalism and intimidation, as well as to investigate what he termed “anti-Jewish racism” in colleges.
On Monday, multiple federal agencies announced a thorough review of Columbia University’s federal contracts and grants due to an ongoing Title VI investigation. Institutions receiving federal funding must comply with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on ancestry, ethnicity, or national origin. Failure to comply could lead to significant funding cuts.
Federal Review and Funding Risks
Columbia University is at risk of losing $51.4 million in federal contracts for what officials describe as “inaction in the face of harassment of Jewish students.” The government is also evaluating over $5 billion in grant commitments. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated, “Institutions that receive federal funds must protect all students from discrimination. Columbia’s failure to uphold this raises serious concerns.”
As the debate continues, concerns grow over how these measures could impact First Amendment protections for students and universities nationwide.